The Speaker of the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has given some standing committees a deadline for the submission of their budget reports to the leadership of the house.
Gbajabiamila gave the order at the resumed plenary of the House on Tuesday. He says the committees should use the two days grace given to complete their budget defence report.
The committees whose reports are being expected are, the committees on Finance, Aviation, Army, Science and Technology, Commerce, Solid Minerals, Healthcare Services, Health Institutions, Works, and Basic Education.
They are to submit their budget defence report to the committee on appropriation, latest by Thursday.
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Others are, the Committees on National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Agriculture, Labour and Employment, Tertiary Education, Poverty Alleviation, Gas Resources, and Youth Development, amongst others.
The House had on Tuesday adjourned plenary from October 22nd to November 24, 2020, to enable lawmakers to have adequate time to hold budget defence sessions with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs.
The earlier period given for budget defence and submission of reports to the Appropriations Committee was between the 11th and 18th November.
The House is obviously trying to meet its promise to deliver a January to December budget circle to the country for the second year running.
Gbajabiamila had insisted that the committees have 48 hours grace to submit their budgets, unfailingly, as it will close on Thursday, and there will be no extensions.
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Also, the House honoured the late newspaper vendor, Ifeanyichukwu Okereke, who was killed by a security aide attached to the speaker’s convoy last Thursday.
Before the commencement of plenary on Tuesday, leaders of the Abuja Newspapers Distributors Association and the Newspapers Vendors Association, Abuja, gathered in the chamber, following the invitation by the Speaker.
Thereafter, the slain vendor was honoured by the speaker.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
